Cologne Cathedral is for everyone

Everyone wants to see Cologne Cathedral at least once in their life. Perhaps it’s a long-held wish, as it has been for many over the centuries, or perhaps a visit is on your bucket list because the building is amazingly photogenic, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Religious motivations are of course still a reason for a visit, but the Cathedral’s doors are also open to anyone who first heard about the majestic church in a carnival song.

Last but not least, the Cathedral also welcomes travellers actually on their way from the train station into town who are overwhelmed by the sight of the church and simply have to take a look inside. Last but not least, travellers who are only passing through are very welcome to take a peak inside: every reason to visit the Cathedral is a good one.

There are many ways to prepare your visit of the Cathedral. It is perfectly acceptable to go in without any particular understanding of the complex and curious history of the church’s construction. However, it is definitely worth exploring just some of the literature that generations of authors have penned about this building. Those who are interested can spend all morning in the Cathedral, climb up onto the roof, descend into the vaulted crypt, and, for a time, simply forget the world around them. To guide you through the interior we have put together just a few images and highlights as well as some key facts and figures.